Anthony Joshua Eyes Early 2026 Return Before “Last Roll of the Dice” Mega-Fight with Tyson Fury

Anthony Joshua is preparing for one final push toward the biggest fight of his career — a long-awaited clash with Tyson Fury. According to promoter Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s comeback is penciled in for January or February 2026, setting the stage for a “last roll of the dice” blockbuster showdown next summer.

AJ Back in Camp After Surgery

Joshua, now 35, hasn’t fought since his defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. An elbow injury that refused to heal eventually required surgery, sidelining him for over a year. But with training resumed, the former two-time world champion is targeting a tune-up bout against a top-15 opponent to shake off the rust.

Hearn told Sky Sports that Joshua’s immediate return won’t be against Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, or Dubois:

“We’ve got to choose carefully for the next fight… it’ll be a comeback fight to build into a roll of the dice next summer. We want that to be against Tyson Fury. If it’s not, it’s going to be a massive fight.”

Potential opponents include France’s Tony Yoka or the winner of the upcoming Efe Ajagba vs. Frank Sanchez IBF eliminator, with Ghana emerging as one of the potential venues.

The Fury Factor

The dream remains an all-British superfight with Fury. The matchup has been teased for nearly a decade, yet never finalized. Hearn is pushing for it to finally land in 2026, but Fury’s recent retirements and unpredictability leave the door open for uncertainty.

“From a common-sense perspective the fight has to happen in 2026,” Hearn said. “But common sense and Fury’s decisions don’t always gel together. He’s got to want to come back.”

For Joshua, the margin for error is razor-thin. Another setback in his comeback fight could end his hopes of one last defining night in the ring.

Chasing History

Joshua still has ambitions of becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion. With Oleksandr Usyk currently holding all the belts but expected to vacate soon, fragmentation in the heavyweight division could provide AJ with another path to gold.

But make no mistake — his eyes are locked on Fury. “Motivated” and “focused” were the words Hearn used, stressing that Joshua has a point to prove to critics who have already written him off.

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Anthony Joshua’s career is officially in the make-or-break stage. The comeback fight is a must-win, but more importantly, it’s a test of whether AJ still has the sharpness, durability, and confidence to walk into a ring with Tyson Fury.

Fury remains the wild card — if he stays retired, Joshua’s “last roll of the dice” could be redirected toward Usyk, Dubois, or another top heavyweight. But if Fury laces up the gloves one more time, boxing fans may finally get the fight that should have already headlined Wembley Stadium years ago.

For Joshua, this is legacy-defining. Beat Fury, and he cements his place in history. Lose before then, and the final chapter may already be written.